The International Students: Realistic Expectations session was held this Wednesday in the Charleston room at the Martin Luther King Jr Union from 1 to 3 p.m.  

The session consisted of a meeting where international students were encouraged to ask questions about problems they have while on campus here at Eastern Illinois University. The career and human services faculty used those questions to guide them on their college journey.  

“Students should reach out and use the resources here on campus. The campus here at EIU is set up for their success,” Director of Career Services Bobbi Kingery said.   

The session was set up to welcome international students coming for their first semester or even another year at EIU and allows them to become familiar with the culture here on campus by answering their questions about the current issues they may have while on campus during the fall semester.  

“We want to stay in touch with them and speak to them about their hurdles,” human resources advisor John Marr said.  

Both Kingery and Marr discussed some of the problems students encountered while abroad in college here at EIU.

Most issues stemmed from a different workforce environment or even policy. Other problems involved visas and how they could impede the job search process by keeping students stuck with on-campus positions.  

“Some cultures are more flexible with work schedules and deadlines that are not as set in stone as other cultures,” Kingery explained.  

Kingery and Marr want to help international students jump over these hurdles and overcome the challenges that impede students to help them succeed in the job market here in America.

They hope that students come to them with their questions or even set up an appointment with one of them at the Human Services Building to discuss any problems they run into while working for their degrees.  

So where can international students go if they need help here on campus? 

Kingery advises students to go to a multitude of places if they need any kind of assistance while here at EIU.

She explained that career services in the Human Services Building on campus can assist students with what to expect in their job search and explain the work culture and its differences here in the United States.

The international office of students and scholars in Blair Hall is also able to help with any questions they run into on campus. She added that Booth Library has subject librarians who can help them if they have any questions.  

Michelle Doty can be reached at 581-2812 or at mrdoty@eiu.edu.